What's new in the 2025 Audi A5 Sedan: A detailed overview

Audi introduced the A4 in 1994 as its entry-level compact sedan to rival the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In 2023, the German brand revealed that the future of the venerable A4 will be all-electric, similar to the A6. Considering the popularity of this model, it was decided that the 2025 Audi A5 would be launched as its replacement.

The new A5 will be an ICE-only model similar to the old A4, available in Sedan and Avant (station wagon) forms. There will be S5 Sedan and S5 Avant versions – the latter may not be offered in the UAE. The 2025 Audi A5 hosts a new platform, updated design, and plenty of features to go with the new name.

Variants & Price

Audi UAE has not released any details regarding the official variants & prices of the 2025 Audi A5. That said, the starting price of the new Audi A5 sedan in the German market is EUR 45,200. For perspective, that equates to around 180,000 dirhams in the UAE – the final official price will be much higher.

As for the new Audi A5 Avant, its starting price in Germany is EUR 46,850 – loosely translating to 182,000 dirhams. However, this particular model may not come to our shores. The 2025 Audi S5 Sedan has a starting price of EUR 78,500 in Germany, which is around 305,000 dirhams. Meanwhile, the new S5 Avant costs EUR 80,150 (approximately 311,000 dirhams).

Exterior

If we are talking about the differences between the old A4 and the new A5, the exterior is a great starting point. The overall design continues to be a clean and modern take on the new-age premium sedan. It is bereft of any unwanted muscularity and bulges that may disrupt the otherwise purposeful lines.

The front fascia houses the latest 3D ‘Singleframe’ grille that nails the proportions aspect so well. It is flanked by contemporarily styled Matrix LED headlights with sleek indicators & DRLs, while the soft nose houses flared intakes. This face is smart enough and will have you looking twice! The sides feature flush door handles, a sweeping roofline, and stylish alloy rims.

Compared to the outgoing A4, the rear of the all-new A5 looks far more attractive. This has been achieved, in a way, due to the sloping rear pillars. Other contributing factors include the ducktail spoiler, new & sportier bumper, twin exhausts, and the brilliant digital OLED taillights. These come with signature animations and can house up to 364 individual segments!

Then there are the so-called “sculpted blisters”, which are there as a throwback to the wonderful Audi Quattro. For those wondering where these are on the all-new A5 – you can spot them just above the rear wheel arches. The styling remains premium but taut by not caving into the pressures of maintaining aggressive design gestures.

As expected, the 2025 Audi S5 sedan looks more aggressive and sportier than the A5 it is based on. The differences here are certainly not night & day. The S5 gets a slightly more revised front bumper with black trim and a mildly tweaked rear bumper. There is also a small bootlip spoiler along with quad tailpipes finished in chrome.

The 2025 Audi A5 sedan is bigger than the A4. It measures 4,829 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,444 mm in height. Its wheelbase has grown by 68 mm too, to 2,897 mm. The maximum luggage capacity of the new A5 Sedan is 445 litres, while that of the new A5 Avant is 476 litres.

Interior

Audi’s new interior design is one of the cleanest and most sophisticated, elevating the new A5’s cabin experience. Unlike in the A4, the angular dash with its digital displays and the minimalistic center console here feel up-to-date. The three screens comprise an 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit driver’s display, a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen, and an optional 10.9-inch MMI passenger display.

These high-definition OLED panels look great and don’t suffer from bothersome lags. The updated infotainment system runs Android OS and features Audi assistant with ChatGPT integration. This allows the system to recognize & process over 800 voice inputs, making it far more useful in everyday use. The Virtual Cockpit display is easy to figure out and boasts excellent animations.

The A5’s interior gets the ambiance lighting package, which provides visual cues to the driver via a dynamic LED strip. The interior includes a 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, wireless phone charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. The panoramic glass roof has a unique polymer coating and up to nine transparency levels, operated electronically with a button.

Buyers can enjoy streaming services like Amazon Music and YouTube, plus multiple other apps available on the Audi Application Store. The interior of the new Audi A5 feels well-built and quality-driven. It amalgamates eco-friendly and recycled materials with plush Nappa leather and wood sourced from old apple trees in Germany.

On the other hand, the black/gray interior offered with the S-line trim might feel too sporty and dark for some. The legroom at the back is good and the well-cushioned seats are comfy, while the front seats are fantastic and supportive. However, the view out of the sloped rear windscreen and the lack of physical HVAC buttons are bad.

Engine and performance

The 2025 Audi A5 is offered with the brand’s new-age MHEV plus electrical system. It involves a 48-volt lithium-ion battery, a belt alternator starter, and what Audi calls a powertrain generator (PTG). While the lithium battery’s energy capacity is only 1.7 kilowatts, the PTG offers up to 18 kilowatts or 24 horsepower.

Audi’s hybrid technology allows the A5 to perform better and be more energy-efficient in everyday driving conditions. Underpinning the 2025 A5 sedan & A5 Avant is the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. This new vehicle platform works in tandem with the End-to-End Electronic Architecture (E3) and its features experienced inside the 2025 A5.

Audi could offer three petrol engines with the new A5 in the UAE. The base engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 148 hp, front-wheel drive, and a claimed fuel economy of 15.1 kmpl or 6.6 L/100 km. This TFSI motor is also available with 201 hp, Quattro all-wheel drive, and a fuel economy of 12.6 kmpl or 7.9 L/100 km.

Both of these engines come with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or S tronic transmission. The base A5 has a top speed of 216 kmph and accelerates from 0-100 kmph in 9.8 seconds. The 201-horsepower AWD version can reach 245 kmph and go from 0-100 kmph in 7.6 seconds. Numbers aside, the new Audi A5 feels sure-footed yet relaxed to drive.

Then there is the 2025 Audi S5 Sedan (and Avant), which is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TFSI engine. It produces 362 hp and 550 Nm of torque, propelling the new S5 from 0-100 kmph in just 4.5 seconds! With Quattro's all-wheel drive grip and a top speed of 250 kmph, the new Audi S5 remains an exciting family car.

The new Audi S5 also gets a rear sports differential, a tweaked ESC, torque vectoring and launch control. These, along with the adaptive S sports suspension, make for a fun but comfortable daily driver. The S models are also equipped with more aggressive performance tyres for optimum traction and control.

Safety

The 2025 Audi A5 Sedan & Avant models come with a range of advanced driver assistance features. These include lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, auto-emergency braking, driver drowsiness monitoring, surround-view cameras, etc. There is also Cornering Assist, Evasion Assist, Cross-Traffic Assist, Park Assist, rear-seat warning with occupant alert, and trailer assist.

Conclusion

The 2025 Audi A5 Sedan is a significant upgrade over the old A4. Its exterior looks modern and elegant, while the interior feels high-end and well-equipped. Although its barrage of tech-savvy features may be challenging at first, they are still interesting.

All in all, the new Audi A5 drives well and is quite efficient, thanks to its new mild-hybrid powertrain. These changes have made this Audi sedan extremely compelling, even when compared to the new BMW 3-Series.

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